UNITE in solidarity with JB HI-FI workers
On Saturday May 8th UNITE organised a solidarity picket outside JB HI-FI on Bourke Street in the city.
Hundreds of leaflets were distributed to customers explaining how the company is refusing to offer its New Zealand retail staff a pay rise. Much interest was shown in our information stall as passers-by stopped to listen to speeches from UNITE organisers.
Several members of JB HI-FI’s management were seen spying on the action. They were warned that future actions would be organised if their New Zealand staff were not offered a decent pay rise soon.
We encourage all JB HI-FI workers to join UNITE. The best way to force JB HI-FI management to pay decent wages in both Australia and New Zealand is for the workers to link up.
See below for the text of the leaflet we handed out on the day.
SUPPORT STRIKING WORKERS IN NZ!
JB Hi-Fi workers in New Zealand have been taking strike action in recent weeks as part of a campaign to win higher wages for retail workers.
Their strike was the first ever industrial action at one of the company’s stores in Australia or New Zealand in over 27 years of the company’s history!
The Unite Union (NZ) has been negotiating with JB Hi-Fi management for over six months for a collective agreement but the Australian bosses are refusing to agree to any wage increases. New Zealand JB Hi-Fi workers haven’t had a pay rise in two and a half years!
Most JB Hi-Fi workers in New Zealand are paid NZ$13.50, almost half as much as JB Hi-Fi workers in Australia!
While the retail giant’s net profit after tax is expected to be as high as $120 million this year, CEO Richard Euchtritz told their New Zealand employees that their demand for a pay rise is “absurd”.
What is absurd is that Euchtritz was paid almost AU$3 million last year, while refusing any pay rises for his employees!
The Unite Union will continue their action against JB Hi-Fi until they agree to pay decent wages to their employees.
Let JB Hi-Fi management know you don’t support them ripping off their workers!
For more information about the dispute in New Zealand visit the Unite Union website here: www.unite.org.nz
